485-200 IT and Children's Learning

476-104 Education 1: Children Schools & Society (BEd Prim) or 460-105 Teaching and Professional Practice 1 and 472-100 Learning, Teaching and Play (Bachelor of Early Childhood Education)

This subject will develop an understanding of how current computer-based technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning and support curriculum goals in early childhood settings and in primary classrooms. Students completing this subject will be able to apply sound strategies for evaluating educational software; use the internet for research and communication in an informed manner; demonstrate a good knowledge of how at least one primary school or early childhood setting uses computers for curriculum purposes. Topics investigated in this subject may include computer ethics; information literacy; critical evaluation of curriculum software; strategies for software evaluation in the context of teaching and learning styles; using databases and spreadsheets for both curriculum and administration purposes; computers and problem solving; a practical introduction to multimedia;and computers for children with special needs. Bachelor of Education (Primary) students will focus on the uses of IT in primary schools for their assignments, and Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students will focus on the IT uses in early childhood settings and the early years of schooling.

Weekly tasks, plus assignments to a total of 4000 words.

Successful submission of 80% of weekly tasks is required to pass this subject.

• D P Chambers & M Dobbins, Computers & the K-6 Classroom: Kids Can Do. CD-ROM, Department of Science & Mathematics Education, University of Melbourne, 1999.
• V Sharpe, Computer Education for Teachers. 3rd edn, McGraw-Hill College, 1999 (BEd Primary students).
  or
  S W Haugland and J L Wright, Young Children and Technology. Allyn and Bacon (BECS students).